From One Studio to Another

Ahh the video store: home to countless employees who have bigger dreams and bigger skills.  Everyone knows that writer/director Quentin Tarantino used to make ends meet by working in an LA based video store before he stormed the Hollywood scene with Reservoir Dogs. In fact, I’m willing to bet that if you ask any given video store clerk what their future goals are – a great deal of them will tell you that they’re working toward some sort of goal in film or as an artist of some sort.  Video stores just seem to be a nice creative environment for those who want something more but need to make some cash while in the process of working toward that something more. Chris Labrenz of Edmonton, Canada happens to be one of those people.  Although he works in a video store, Chris happens to be a pretty decent artist.  His drawings of characters and images from everything from popular TV shows to horror films and more adorn the walls of the Edmonton based video store Movie Studio where Chris is the assistant manager.  He sold his first piece when he was 13-years-old for $1000 and hasn’t looked back since.  He’s even sold his artwork to the dark lord of metal, Ozzy Osbourne.  Hey, when Ozzy’s got some of your artwork hanging in his home, I’d say it’s safe to say that you’re a success.  Labrenz has taken this success as an artist and moved into the realm of tattoo.  He’s currently apprenticing at Edmonton based tattoo shop Capital Tattoo. Sounds pretty cool indeed.  I’m sure there will be a time in the not so distant future where Labrenz is running his own tattoo studio and transferring that demand for his art on to flesh.  Best of luck to you, Chris.